THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

It's that time of year again where we find out what was the best book you read on a WW II subject this year and why?

The book does not have to have been published in 2014, it could be an old second hand book that you found and read for the first time this year. So share with the group which book you thought was the best WW II book you read this year.

For me, hands down, it was --

Man Of Valour: The Life Of Field-Marshal The Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, DSO, MVO, MC by John Colville

It was a rec from Mr. Geevee. Published in 1972.

Good selection Manray9 and one I need to consider buying for myself, thanks for your nomination.

For me.
Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East

David Stahel

No question: An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943

An odd year for me as I only read a couple of WWII books this year (all sorts of other history esp WWI) so I nominate:
by Robert Lyman

Some excellent books being mentioned here, great stuff!

As of right now, I second Geevee's nomination of "The Longest Siege." However, with nearly two months of reading left, I reserve the right to change my mind.:-)

That's totally acceptable Gerald :)

Monty's Men: The British Army and the Liberation of Europe

Well researched and well written. An excellent read.

Another good nominated for best WW2 book of 2014 and one that I am yet to read, thanks for reminding me Steve :)

Has anyone read SHOT DOWN yet? http://bit.ly/ShotDownBook

I always have trouble picking just one, but here are the WWII books I gave 5 stars to in 2014 (meaning I thought they were good enough to read more than once, if I ever get caught up on my to-read list):
A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II
To Hell and Back
The White Rabbit: The Secret Agent the Gestapo Could Not Crack

I guess this year I was in the mood for stories focused on individuals facing difficult situations and somehow surviving without losing their humanity.

Some good books there A.L. and excellent selections for best book of 2014!

Good trio A.L.

Hmmm, difficult question indeed, looking back I don't think I've read too much on WW2 this year. But I did really enjoy;

by James Holland

James wrote: "Hmmm, difficult question indeed, looking back I don't think I've read too much on WW2 this year. But I did really enjoy;

by James Holland"

One I want to read James so good to know.

What!!! You haven't read it yet Geevee, come on what's going on over there :)

Earlier, I voted Robert Lyman's "The Longest Siege" as the best World War II book that I have read this year. I must admit to wavering. The first World War II book that I finished this year was Gordon Sander's The Hundred Day Winter War: Finland's Gallant Stand Against the Soviet Army. The book covers the Winter War, not just from the standpoint of combat, of which there is actually relatively little, but also of diplomacy and the world outside of the Soviet Union and Finland. The book incorporates the observations of the war correspondents, of whom there were many, and it provides fresh insights, such as the Soviet use of paratroopers. A few days ago, I realized that although I had started the book last December and finished it in January of 2014, I still thought about it. Any book that has you thinking about it--positively--10 months after you finish it is definitely a candidate for best book.

It would be hard to argue with that Gerald! I read the book last year and I quite enjoyed it as well, a good all round history of that conflict.

Gerald wrote: "Earlier, I voted Robert Lyman's "The Longest Siege" as the best World War II book that I have read this year. I must admit to wavering. The first World War II book that I finished this year was Gor..."

Definitely worthy then Gerald.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "What!!! You haven't read it yet Geevee, come on what's going on over there :)"

Doh! Too many books... :(

I've looked over my Read/WW2 shelves, and I see a lot of 4-star books, but no 5-star books.

I think I will give my "best" rating to . The level of detailed research was amazing and enlightening.

Honorable mention to , for excellent writing.

Excellent selections Lee. I have been thinking about buying a copy of the first book for a while as well.

SHOT DOWN just won the following 2014 Book Awards:

Southern California Book Festival - Honorable Mention General Non-Fiction

USA Best Book Awards - Finalist History: General

USA Best Book Awards - Finalist History: Military

View Amazon reader reviews at http://bit.ly/ShotDownBook

I haven't read much on WW II this year (a total of 6), of the few I have read the one I liked the most is


It was published a few yrs ago however.

Of recently published ones -


wasn't bad.

Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau
to me this is the best for year 2014.

More good books folks.

happy wrote: "I haven't read much on WW II this year (a total of 6), of the few I have read the one I liked the most is..."

I forgot Deutermann's (I must be getting old :))



It is the best WW II themed book I read this year.

I have finally decided for the best WW2 book I have read so far this year, which was an older book (published in 1994) that I have only just gotten around to reading but a classic:

Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle, 17 26 September by Martin Middlebrook

A fine choice AR.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I have finally decided for the best WW2 book I have read so far this year, which was an older book (published in 1994) that I have only just gotten around to reading but a classic:

[bookcover:Arnh..."

Ordered a copy because AR rated it so highly! Have to blame someone.

Oh no, I really do hope you like it Mike and I'm more than happy to take the blame as long as your wife doesn't plan to visit Australia anytime soon :)

Mike how about blaming me to give AR a break; it's my fault as I recommended it to him...LOL

Your turn is coming Geevee.

Between the three (Mike, Geevee and AR) of you, ya'll are responsible for about 50% of my considerable TBR list :)

Good to share the pain :)

:)

So of the WWII books I read (and boy am I glad that I kept track of them here or I would have forgotten when I had read some of them) only five got four stars when I did the review. No Five Stars. Which says that I have to be a tad more particular about what I am reading...maybe not.

Here are the five.
Six Armies in Normandy, John Keegan
The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang
Courage has no Color, by Tanya Lee Stone
The Japanese Navy in World War II, edited by David C. Evans
The Longest Winder, by Alex Kershaw

I thought about them and worked over in my mind which would be the best...and how to judge that. They are all good books, all of them I enjoyed a great deal and all brought something new and worthwhile to the table of knowledge. Hey had to turn that tree into something.

In the end I decided that the best would have to be the Rape of Nanking. Because it brought the fact that the war was ugly, brutal and savage. We study war, we read about it and sometimes we glorify it, but in the end it is the singular event that brings out all that is worst in mankind. Books like this need to exist to remind us of that.

The Rape of Nanking

I think that is a fine recommendation for one of the better books of WW2 you have read this year DJ!


by Iris Chang

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I think that is a fine recommendation for one of the better books of WW2 you have read this year DJ!


by Iris Chang"


When countries in Asia get nervous about Japan in recent events starting to flex their muscles, those countries have every right to be cautious...

Dj wrote: "So of the WWII books I read (and boy am I glad that I kept track of them here or I would have forgotten when I had read some of them) only five got four stars when I did the review. No Five Stars. ..."

I've enjoyed your snippets and views on these this year too.

Geevee wrote: "Dj wrote: "So of the WWII books I read (and boy am I glad that I kept track of them here or I would have forgotten when I had read some of them) only five got four stars when I did the review. No F..."


What can I say I just like to make comments about what I read. LOL.

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "When countries in Asia get nervous about Japan in recent events starting to flex their muscles, those countries have every right to be cautious..."

I agree. I was rather disappointed after reading this. Yomiuri Shimbun published this book as a way of trying to present the facts. But in the face of the current right-wing climate in Japan, they have regressed.

Who Was Responsible? From Marco Polo Bridge to Pearl Harbor

Note the title too: From Marco Polo Bridge to Pearl Harbor, not from XXX to Nagasaki. In other words, the book was asking who was responsible for their aggressions, not their defeat.

Very interesting point Chin Joo!

Chin Joo wrote: "Doubledf99.99 wrote: "When countries in Asia get nervous about Japan in recent events starting to flex their muscles, those countries have every right to be cautious..."

I agree. I was rather disa..."

The Japanese are not unique in questionable approaches to dealing with unsavory aspects of their history.

Chin Joo wrote: "Doubledf99.99 wrote: "When countries in Asia get nervous about Japan in recent events starting to flex their muscles, those countries have every right to be cautious..."

I agree. I was rather disa..."

Interesting input as always Chin Joo. From your varied titles what would be the best book for you this year?

Thanks Geevee,

My list this year isn't long, especially with regard to WW2 books. A few of the books I read are not 'pure' WW2 books, Nomonhan 1939, for example. I think the one that stands out for me is

Japan 1941: Countdown to Infamy

It shows the complex political/military situation in Japan after getting stuck in China and how the military (especially the army) manoeuvred the civilian government into what they thought was the path to solving their problems, only to get themselves deeper into the quagmire and eventually incurring the wrath of the US.

Incidentally I'm making my way slowly through this other book (not WW2)
The Best and the Brightest

I can't help getting an eerie feeling that the same mechanics was at work, except the manoeuvring was more subtle.

Chin Joo wrote: "Thanks Geevee,

My list this year isn't long, especially with regard to WW2 books. A few of the books I read are not 'pure' WW2 books, Nomonhan 1939, for example. I think the one that stands out fo..."

I wouldn't argue with you, Chin Joo.

Chin Joo wrote: "Thanks Geevee,

My list this year isn't long, especially with regard to WW2 books. A few of the books I read are not 'pure' WW2 books, Nomonhan 1939, for example. I think the one that stands out fo..."

Thanks I have Eri Hotta's on my TBR and am aiming to read it in 2015.